Mababe River Lodge & Campsite

Mababe River Lodge & Camping is located in Mababe at B334 Road (you need a 4x4), 115 km north of Maun. The lodge offers 5 chalets and 8 camping sites. There is a campshop, restaurant with breakfast, lunch & dinner, pool, bar & comfortable lounge, and terrace with view the waterhole. Outfit and layout provide a high-quality bush atmosphere. Service is friendly & helpful. A 3-hour game drive sits you back USD 95, a serious rip-off. We opted for camping and had dinner at the lodge. We had a site with barbecue facility, lighting, and a private shower & toilet facility. The camping in not gated. After dusk always walk with a torch. In the dark hyenas and buffalo roam the camping and often a hippo walks by. Mababe River is a nice lodge & camping, and a fine choice for 1 or 2 nights. Recommended.

Mababe river lodge was excellent. After one of the hardest drives of our 3 week drive across Southern Africa, we really enjoyed our stay here. The rooms are and staff are wonderful. The staff cleaned our car without even asking (and it was badly needed). The rooms are lovely and have a private varendah that look out over the planes and river with lots of animal sightings. And Dinner was excellent, and lots of veggies, which I appreciated. We also did a day long safari to Moremi park and saw two pairs of mating lions.

Our stay was unfortunately not what we expected. From the moment we arrived, there were countless rules and restrictions – even a big sign at the entrance listing them all, which was quite unwelcoming. What’s more frustrating is that none of these rules were mentioned during the booking process on Booking.com. One of the most inconvenient rules was the complete ban on eating or drinking in the rooms. We traveled with our camper, bringing our own food and even a small kitchen setup, thinking we could at least prepare our own meals since the listing mentioned an available kitchen. However, we were told this was not allowed unless we booked a camping spot, not a room. This critical detail wasn’t disclosed during the booking process. Adding to the frustration, the prices at the on-site restaurant were shockingly high. A small can of cola cost $8, and a simple meal of chicken, grains, salad, and pudding was $23. Thankfully, we found a picnic site just 300 meters from the entrance where we could finally prepare our own meals. Overall, we felt disappointed and a bit misled, and we wouldn’t recommend this place to travelers who value flexibility and transparent information.

A great experience staying here. The staff were very friendly and accommodating. They helped clean the vehicles. The food was delicious and the chef would come out and check on the guests. There are plenty of animals to watch during sunset and sunrise and the lounge near the restaurant is quite comfy. The only thing that could be improved is if there was WiFi in the rooms.

We stayed here for one night at the campsite and for one night in the lodge and it was an awesome experience! The campsite was very spacious, good equipped with private ablution, an outdoor kitchenblock and a braai station. We loved it! The lodge has a beautiful location with a restaurant, a bar and a swimming pool with a nice view. The room was cozy, clean and we really felt at home. The staff was great, always helpful, really friendly and did amazing service - a lot of other lodges should take an example from that! And the dinner was just awesome - really fresh, tasty and good portions. We would loved to stay longer and will definitely come back 🧡 Would recommend everyone to stay here!

Perfect place to rest after some adventure days in the national parks. Staff was friendly and helpful, and even arranged a last-minute vegetarian option for dinner. The food was great, as was the view. Very good quality of everything for the prices!

This lodge is perfectly located for exploring Moremi and Savuti, and we spent three nights enjoying its modern, well-maintained facilities. We loved our room (Room 1), especially the outdoor shower and bathtub, and the abundant wildlife around the camp—hippos, elephants, game, and even wild dogs—was a true highlight. Watching them from our balcony or the bar and pool area was unforgettable. However, shortcomings in the bar and restaurant service left a disappointing impression. On one day, breakfast was simply forgotten (staff overslept, nearly 1h late), and on another, the staff appeared unmotivated and disengaged (constantly on their cell phone), lacking initiative and guest interaction. If service in these areas is improved, this lodge has every potential to offer an exceptional overall experience.

A Hidden Gem in the Heart of Botswana I don’t usually write reviews, but this place absolutely deserves the spotlight. Some close friends of mine have been coming here for years, always telling me how special it is - and now I finally understand why. Nestled in one of the most breathtaking parts of Botswana, this lodge is truly something extraordinary. It's still relatively unknown online, but that only adds to its charm. From the moment I arrived, I felt the warmth and genuine hospitality that my friends had always spoken about. The staff here are incredibly kind and attentive - whether you're staying in one of the beautiful rooms or on the adjacent campsite, which is just as lovingly cared for. The lodge itself is a peaceful haven - with a stunning pool, a relaxed bar and restaurant area, and comfortable spots to unwind between game drives. Everything is thoughtfully designed and full of heart. There's internet available, but honestly, the natural surroundings are so captivating, you'll likely forget to check your phone. And then - the safaris. The game drives you can do from here are simply unforgettable. Within minutes, you're surrounded by wildlife and untouched nature. The tracks feel remote and wild, adding to the magic of the experience. We saw an incredible variety of animals – truly everything you can hope for in Africa, and more. This place touched me deeply. It’s clear that it’s built and run with love and dedication, and I feel incredibly lucky to have experienced it - finally understanding what my friends have been raving about all these years.